WMKI
Encyclopedia
WMKI is a children's radio
station
in the Boston market. It is owned by The Walt Disney Company
, and runs their Radio Disney
programming.
purchased the 680 kilohertz frequency of WLAW, moved its programming there, and sold the 1260 frequency to Vic Diehm and Associates, Inc.
Most of WVDA's programming was from the ABC Radio Network, with some local programming. Among them were a few DJ shows, and for a brief time in the middle 1950's, a three-hour morning news block. After just four years, the station was sold in 1957 to Air Trails and became WEZE, becoming an NBC Radio Network affiliate. The station carried most NBC Radio programs, and some local DJ shows featuring softer music.
On October 19th, 1959, WEZE began a beautiful music
format, branded as "The Wonderful World Of Music", that targeted older listeners. The station programmed music in uninterrupted quarter-hour blocks during the daytime hours (half-hour blocks at night), and continued to serve as Boston's NBC Radio affiliate until 1966, carrying hourly newscasts, some feature programs, special news events, but very little of the network's "Monitor" weekend service.
In his autobiography, comedian George Carlin
describes his experiences as a DJ at the station, until he was fired after taking the station's news station wagon to New York to buy marijuana (leaving the station unable to cover a prison riot). Carlin wrote that another future comedian, Jack Burns
, also worked there as an announcer and newscaster at the station during this time. Although only 5,000 watts, WEZE was one of Boston's top-rated radio stations for most of the 1960s, until the beautiful music format made a big splash on the FM dial late in the decade.
For many years, WEZE's studios were located on the ground floor of the Statler Office Building near Boston's Park Square, with a picture window on the corner of St. James and Columbus Avenues, allowing passers-by to see the announcer at work in the studio.
During the "Wonderful World Of Music" days, there were live announcers, but they spoke only every fifteen minutes, to run down what had been played during the previous quarter-hour, do live commercials, and weather updates.
In the Fall of 1972, WEZE changed formats to a rock 'n roll oldies sound with live personality DJ's, which was tweaked by mid 1973 by Program Director Steve Hunter and Consultant Kent Burkhardt to include include current pop/rock hits as well. Now known as Z-1260, WEZE was now in direct competition with established Top 40 AM stations WRKO
, WMEX
, and WVBF-FM. Perhaps the best-known announcer during this period was Alan Colmes
, who replaced Chuck Kelly in the morning drive slot and who later co-hosted a talk show with Sean Hannity
on cable's Fox News Channel
. In March, 1974, the format was modified again to a more MOR/personality approach.
From August, 1975 until early 1977, WEZE tried "The Wonderful World Of Music" again (which was often branded "The Easiest Sound In Town" in newspaper ads, billboards, and television commercials).. Since FM radios still weren't widespread in automobiles, station management hoped that people who would listen to easy-listening FM stations like WJIB-FM
at home or work would listen to WEZE on their AM-only car radios while driving to and from their jobs (or other errands). The revival met with very little success given that beautiful music listenership had pretty much migrated to the FM dial.
In early 1977, WEZE became one of the first stations to program what might now be called Adult Album Alternative (or at least what would pass for such a format at that time). This format, promoted as "AlbuM 1260" (spelled as you see it, to denote it's frequency as "AM 1260"), continued until the 1978 sale of the station to New England Continental Media (an ancestor company of Salem Communications
), which instituted a Religious
format.
Initially the religious format consisted of Contemporary Christian Music, Christian features, teaching, and preaching. Music aired about half the day. The station also was and still is a commercial station. By the mid 1980's local Christian talk shows replaced some of the hours of weekday music programming. More teaching programs were added to replace other music hours eliminating weekday music totally. From 1984 WEZE only played inspirational music on weekends for a few hours.
Salem exercized an option to acquire WBNW 590 in the Fall of 1996, and began a simulcast that resulted in WEZE
's entire intellectual property move to 590 and 1260 become WPZE "Praise 1260" in February 1997.
See WEZE
for a history of that station since 1997.
The Praise 1260 format took programs that Salem lacked the time to air on 590 WEZE along with about 6 hours a day of Rhythmic Christian Music. The music consisted of Upbeat praise and worship church music, gospel, and soft AC Christian cuts. However, in July Salem decided to sell the station, and it was sold to Hibernia Broadcasting, who switched the station to Radio Disney
on November 21. (The Praise 1260 format was closed earlier in that fall in preparation for the sale, and reverted to the WEZE simulcast). The station switched to the current WMKI late in December 1999, and was sold in a group deal to ABC
, the owner of Radio Disney, in 2000.
Children's music
Children's music is used here to refer to music composed and performed for children by adults. In European influenced contexts this means music, usually songs, written specifically for a juvenile audience. The composers are usually adults. Children's music has historically held both entertainment...
station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
in the Boston market. It is owned by The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company is the largest media conglomerate in the world in terms of revenue. Founded on October 16, 1923, by Walt and Roy Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, Walt Disney Productions established itself as a leader in the American animation industry before diversifying into...
, and runs their Radio Disney
Radio Disney
Radio Disney is a radio network based in Burbank, California and headquartered out of the Disney Channel headquarters on West Alameda Ave., from where it has been based since November 2008. Prior to that, the network was based in Dallas, Texas...
programming.
History
WMKI began broadcasting in June of 1953 as WVDA, after WNACWRKO
WRKO is a radio station based in Boston, Massachusetts, currently owned by Entercom. Its transmitter is located in Burlington, Massachusetts, next to the Burlington Mall.-1920-1940:...
purchased the 680 kilohertz frequency of WLAW, moved its programming there, and sold the 1260 frequency to Vic Diehm and Associates, Inc.
Most of WVDA's programming was from the ABC Radio Network, with some local programming. Among them were a few DJ shows, and for a brief time in the middle 1950's, a three-hour morning news block. After just four years, the station was sold in 1957 to Air Trails and became WEZE, becoming an NBC Radio Network affiliate. The station carried most NBC Radio programs, and some local DJ shows featuring softer music.
On October 19th, 1959, WEZE began a beautiful music
Beautiful music
Beautiful music is a mostly instrumental music format that was prominent in American radio from the 1960s through the 1980s...
format, branded as "The Wonderful World Of Music", that targeted older listeners. The station programmed music in uninterrupted quarter-hour blocks during the daytime hours (half-hour blocks at night), and continued to serve as Boston's NBC Radio affiliate until 1966, carrying hourly newscasts, some feature programs, special news events, but very little of the network's "Monitor" weekend service.
In his autobiography, comedian George Carlin
George Carlin
George Denis Patrick Carlin was an American stand-up comedian, social critic, actor and author, who won five Grammy Awards for his comedy albums....
describes his experiences as a DJ at the station, until he was fired after taking the station's news station wagon to New York to buy marijuana (leaving the station unable to cover a prison riot). Carlin wrote that another future comedian, Jack Burns
Jack Burns
Jack Burns is an American comedian and voice actor.-Biography:In 1959, he began his career as a comedy team with George Carlin when both were working for radio station KXOL in Fort Worth, Texas...
, also worked there as an announcer and newscaster at the station during this time. Although only 5,000 watts, WEZE was one of Boston's top-rated radio stations for most of the 1960s, until the beautiful music format made a big splash on the FM dial late in the decade.
For many years, WEZE's studios were located on the ground floor of the Statler Office Building near Boston's Park Square, with a picture window on the corner of St. James and Columbus Avenues, allowing passers-by to see the announcer at work in the studio.
During the "Wonderful World Of Music" days, there were live announcers, but they spoke only every fifteen minutes, to run down what had been played during the previous quarter-hour, do live commercials, and weather updates.
In the Fall of 1972, WEZE changed formats to a rock 'n roll oldies sound with live personality DJ's, which was tweaked by mid 1973 by Program Director Steve Hunter and Consultant Kent Burkhardt to include include current pop/rock hits as well. Now known as Z-1260, WEZE was now in direct competition with established Top 40 AM stations WRKO
WRKO
WRKO is a radio station based in Boston, Massachusetts, currently owned by Entercom. Its transmitter is located in Burlington, Massachusetts, next to the Burlington Mall.-1920-1940:...
, WMEX
WWZN
WWZN is an AM radio station licensed to serve the Boston media market. Its programming is a time-brokered mix between progressive talk radio during the daytime , sports talk and religious programming in the overnight hours...
, and WVBF-FM. Perhaps the best-known announcer during this period was Alan Colmes
Alan Colmes
Alan Samuel Colmes is an American radio/television host, liberal political commentator for the Fox News Channel, and blogger. He is the host of The Alan Colmes Show, a nationally syndicated talk-radio show distributed by Fox News Radio that also airs throughout the United States on Fox News Talk...
, who replaced Chuck Kelly in the morning drive slot and who later co-hosted a talk show with Sean Hannity
Sean Hannity
Sean Hannity is an American radio and television host, author, and conservative political commentator. He is the host of The Sean Hannity Show, a nationally syndicated talk radio show that airs throughout the United States on Premiere Radio Networks. Hannity also hosts a cable news show, Hannity,...
on cable's Fox News Channel
Fox News Channel
Fox News Channel , often called Fox News, is a cable and satellite television news channel owned by the Fox Entertainment Group, a subsidiary of News Corporation...
. In March, 1974, the format was modified again to a more MOR/personality approach.
From August, 1975 until early 1977, WEZE tried "The Wonderful World Of Music" again (which was often branded "The Easiest Sound In Town" in newspaper ads, billboards, and television commercials).. Since FM radios still weren't widespread in automobiles, station management hoped that people who would listen to easy-listening FM stations like WJIB-FM
WTKK
WTKK is a New England commercial talk radio station, first broadcast out of Boston on 96.9 FM beginning in 1999. It can be heard in eastern Massachusetts, the northernmost area of Rhode Island, southern New Hampshire, and southern Maine...
at home or work would listen to WEZE on their AM-only car radios while driving to and from their jobs (or other errands). The revival met with very little success given that beautiful music listenership had pretty much migrated to the FM dial.
In early 1977, WEZE became one of the first stations to program what might now be called Adult Album Alternative (or at least what would pass for such a format at that time). This format, promoted as "AlbuM 1260" (spelled as you see it, to denote it's frequency as "AM 1260"), continued until the 1978 sale of the station to New England Continental Media (an ancestor company of Salem Communications
Salem Communications
Salem Communications is a U.S. radio broadcaster, Internet content provider, and magazine and book publisher specializing in evangelical Christian and conservative political talk radio. It owns 99 commercial radio stations, 65 of which are in the top 25 markets. Salem is the fifth largest U.S....
), which instituted a Religious
Religious broadcasting
Religious broadcasting refers to broadcasting by religious organizations, usually with a religious message. Many religious organizations have long recorded content such as sermons and lectures, and have moved into distributing content on their Internet websites.While this article emphasises...
format.
Initially the religious format consisted of Contemporary Christian Music, Christian features, teaching, and preaching. Music aired about half the day. The station also was and still is a commercial station. By the mid 1980's local Christian talk shows replaced some of the hours of weekday music programming. More teaching programs were added to replace other music hours eliminating weekday music totally. From 1984 WEZE only played inspirational music on weekends for a few hours.
Salem exercized an option to acquire WBNW 590 in the Fall of 1996, and began a simulcast that resulted in WEZE
WEZE
WEZE is an AM radio station in Boston, Massachusetts on 590 kHz. The station is owned by Salem Communications and airs Religious programming.- History :...
's entire intellectual property move to 590 and 1260 become WPZE "Praise 1260" in February 1997.
See WEZE
WEZE
WEZE is an AM radio station in Boston, Massachusetts on 590 kHz. The station is owned by Salem Communications and airs Religious programming.- History :...
for a history of that station since 1997.
The Praise 1260 format took programs that Salem lacked the time to air on 590 WEZE along with about 6 hours a day of Rhythmic Christian Music. The music consisted of Upbeat praise and worship church music, gospel, and soft AC Christian cuts. However, in July Salem decided to sell the station, and it was sold to Hibernia Broadcasting, who switched the station to Radio Disney
Radio Disney
Radio Disney is a radio network based in Burbank, California and headquartered out of the Disney Channel headquarters on West Alameda Ave., from where it has been based since November 2008. Prior to that, the network was based in Dallas, Texas...
on November 21. (The Praise 1260 format was closed earlier in that fall in preparation for the sale, and reverted to the WEZE simulcast). The station switched to the current WMKI late in December 1999, and was sold in a group deal to ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
, the owner of Radio Disney, in 2000.